USB 3.0
The third generation of the USB interface introduced in 2008. Called "SuperSpeed USB 3.0," it provides a 10x increase from 480 Mbps to 4.8 Gbps and also reduces CPU overhead by no longer continuously polling attached devices. However, in practice, USB 3.0 devices do not automatically achieve a 1000% speed increase. For example, a USB 3.0 external hard drive may provide only a 50% improvement over its USB 2.0 counterpart. The drive's inherent latency and circuitry are limiting factors.The Plugs and Sockets Are Different
With the addition of four pins, USB 3.0 plugs and sockets are not identical to earlier connectors. USB 3.0 Type A plugs and sockets are completely backward compatible, and USB 3.0 Type B sockets will accept earlier plugs. However, USB 3.0 Type B plugs will not fit into earlier sockets. See USB.
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| USB 3.0 Connectors |
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| USB 3.0 Type A is backward compatible, but not so with Type B. A USB 2.0 B plug will insert into a USB 3.0 B socket, but a 3.0 plug will not fit in a 2.0 socket. Micro-B connectors are used for cellphones and other small devices. (Images courtesy of Intel Corporation.) |
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